Container closure



March 21, 1961 R. B. TAMARlN 2,975,952

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Oct. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 32 22 46 a 48 23 I l #11 I "f *1 WT 7 I? 2y l f /6 /a 19 INVENTOR.

,4 TTOF/VEX March 21, 1961 R. B. TAMARIN 2,975,952

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed 0 1 a, 1957 2 Sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

AWO /A90 5. TAMAR/A/ v 477 fi/VEX United States Fatent' CONTAINER CLOSURE Richard B. Tamarin, 1020 Kipling Road, n aarra. Filed Oct. 8, 1957, set. No. 688,967

2 Claims. 01. 229-17 This invention relates to closure means for a container having a dispensing opening, concerning particularly cooperating sliding and fixed closure pieces whose operation is conducive to performance of advertising and related functions.

Most dispensing containers, regardless of the nature of their contents, are essentially static and devoid of attractiveness and interest even when being opened or closed, despite the recognized importance of advertising and similar informational functions in modern packaging. Demonstration of the use of packaged consumer goods, such as cigarettes, cereals, detergents, food mixes, and similar solid materials, usually begins, regardless of the medium of presentation, with a view of the container and then shows the dispensing of at least a portion of the contents; Although displacement of some part of the container is an accepted prerequisite to accessibility of the contained product, more than cursory demonstration of such a step can be expected only to attract more attention to the demonstrator than to the characteristics of the packaged goods or the identity of the manufacturer. The more dynamic the medium, the greater this handicap; moreover, rarely indeed does the consumer give a conventional container more than a fleeting glance when using it himself, once having mastered the rudiments of opening it.

A primary object of the present invention is provision of a container closure having uniquely cooperating elements. An object is dynamic presentation of advertising or similar information by means of the closure for a dispensing container. A particular object is presentation of an alternating or flashing display on a container through cooperating action of sliding and fixed closure pieces. Other objects of this invention, together with means and methods for attaining the various objects, will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying diagrams.

Fig. 1 is a plan of a packaging blank according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective of a portion of a container in a stage of formation from the blank of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are perspectives of the sameportions of Fig. 2 at successive stages in the formation; Fig. 5 is a similar perspective of the formed closed end of the container; and Fig. 6 is a perspective of the same end of the container with the closure slide in the open position.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished in a container having a dispensing opening and a captive closure slide for the opening by providing alongside the opening cooperating outer and inner closure means spaced by substantially the thickness of the slide from one another and adapted to receive the slide therebetween when the dispensing opening is uncovered, the outer closure means being provided with a window underlain by a portion of the inner closure means at all times and by an intervening portion of the slide when the dispensing opening is uncovered. The invention contemplates particularly an end closure for such a container wherein the portion of the movable closure piece visible through the window when the dispensing opening is 1111'.

covered has an irnperforate or unapertured surface or is characterized by a portion thereof located beyond the outer edge of the fixed outer closure piece and thereby adapted to be manipulated (or both). The invention also comprehends provision of a unitary folding packaging blank adapted to form a container having such an end closure.

Fig. 1 shows packaging blank I viewed in plan from the surface that is folded toward the inside in subsequent views. The generally rectangular body of the blank has wall panels 2 to 6, inclusive, defined by parallel welts or fold lines 7 to 10, inclusive, extending transversely from one longitudinal edge of the blank to the other, as produced by scoring of the opposite side of the blank to facilitate folding. Wide panels 2 and 4 are equal to one another in width, as are narrow panels 3 and 5; lap panel 6 is narrower than the pair vof narrow panels.

At the bottom edge of the blank, panel 2 has substantially rectangularflap 12 extending from it over essentially the entire width of the panel, with scored fold line 16 separating flap and panel. Panel 4 has slightly larger rectangular flap 14 extending from it over the entire width of the panel, with scored fold'line 18 intervening, the transverse dimension of iiap 14 closely approximating the width of one of the narrow panels in the pair. Panels 3 and 5 have at the bottom similar trapezoidal tabs 13 and 15, respectively, joined to the body of the blank at their bases along aligned respective scored fold lines 17 and 19 (slightly offset from scored fold lines 16 and 18 for the flaps and from oneanother to compensate for the thick-'- ness of the blank when folded). The individual bottom flaps and tabs extend from the body of the blank no more than the width of one of the paired narrow panels. The illustrated and described bottom portion of the blank is of conventional construction, and for that reason is'not treated further in the present description and drawings, the tabs and flapsbeing adapted to tuck and fold down over the end of the tube formed by transverse folding of the blank (i.e., on the vertical lines of Fig. l) to parallelize the respective'pairs of sidewallsr-Z and 4 (with 6 lapped by part of 2) to each other, and 3 and 5 to one another.

At the top edge of the blank, panels 2 and 4 have substantially identical, generally rectangular, flaps 22 and 24, respectively, extending therealoug from extremeopa posite top corners of their respective panels to end upon curving inward and joining respective free edge portions 42 and 44 of the body intervening between the curved corners and respective score lines 7 vand 8, which define intervening narrow panel 3. Each flap is provided with a window shown substantially rectangular in outline, located near the furthermost separated edges of the respective flaps; flap 22 has window 32, and fiap 24 has window34, the two windows being superimposable with respect to one another upon folding of the blank.

The junction of flap 22 with panel 2 is interrupted by slit 36, which intervenes between, and terminates in slight upcurving at both one end of scored fold line 26, which itself leads fromthe slit to thecurved edge of the flap; and one end of scored fold line 26' leading to the op-.; posite edge of the flap. The junction of flap 24-with panel 4 is defined similarly by scored fold line 28, slit:3.8,' and scored fold line 28'. In each of these flaps the slit extends over a major part of the longitudinal dimension of the flap. 1

Essentially rectangular tab 25 extends from thetopof narrow panel 5 for a'distance slightly exceeding half the width of one of the wide panels, and except in the vicinity of the tab junction the width of the tab is slightlyless than the widthof the supporting narrow panel, from which the tab is separated by scored fold line 29. Gen erally rectangular portion 35 outlined by broken the lower half of the tab indicates the location of a display area (35) on the reverse side of the tab (i.e., the outer side, as the blank is folded) at least a portion of which is adapted to be outlined :by the windows of :the flaps when folded down, .as hereinafter described.

Tab 23, whosewidthbver nest 'of its length, including the vicinity of the tab "junction,closelyapproximates that of supporting narrow panel 3, extends outward for a similar distance'=(.slightlywmore than half the wide;panel width) from the top of that narrow panel; the junction of this tab with panel 3 is defined by perforated line 27 consisting .of three 'short :siits alternating with two imperforate portions. Generally rectangular portion 33, outlined in broken lines, is centered 'sidewise .of the tab near the outer edge; this outlined portion indicates the location of a display area 33 on the reverse or outer surface of the tab.

.Outermost edge 37 of *tab 23 is generally parallel to the perforated line, and the generally rectangular outline of the tab is interrupted by a pair of notches or indentations defining ears 46 and 48 (located opposite one another. at the left and right, respectively) and by chamfered edges 41' and 45' interconnecting the ears and the outermost edge. The length of side edges 41 and 45 from the panel junction to the corresponding ears (ignoring the deviation from parallelism imparted to them by the mentioned indentation) is slightly greater than the combined lengths of freetop edge 42 and scored flap junction 26 of panel 2, on the one hand, and like total length of free top edge 44 and scored flap junction 28 of panel 4, on the other. Identical to one another in length, scored portions 26' and 28' of the flap junctions beyond the adjoining slitted portions are slightly longer than the distance from outer or free edge 37 of the tab to an imaginary line joining the outermost edges of the respective ears.

The blank illustrated in Fig. 1, preferred as most suitable to the practice of the present invention in its various aspects (although deviation from it need not prevent achievement of some of the present objectives), is formed conveniently by die-cutting or similar operation performed on a relatively stiff paper, such as that used for tags or playing cards. The blank is scored in conventional manner at the indicated locations, scoring within the body of tab 23 being for the purpose of stiffening it, and the rest of the score lines facilitating folding of the blank therealong. Slitting also may be performed during (or after) the cutting of the blank. Although for simplicity of the showing, only single scoring of the fold lines has been shown (scoring on the side away from the viewer in Fig. 1 producing welts on the side toward the viewer), multiple scoring may be employed if desired to produce more rounded folds and to eliminate sharp edges.

Fig. 2 shows in perspective the top'half or somewhat more of a container being formed from the blank of Fig. 1. At this stage the blank is folded about hollow mandrel 30, which is rectangular in plan, through a right angle on each of transverse (vertical, in Fig. 1) lines 8, 9, and 10, and (at the stage shown) through a somewhat smaller angle on line 7. The tabs and flaps remain aligned with the respective wall panels to which they are joined, display area 35 (indicated by shading) on the outer surface of tab 25 becoming visible in this view. The narrow sidewalls formed by panels 3 and 5 are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the wide sidewall formed by panel 4 and lap panel 6. Wide panel 2 is about to contact outer surface 6 of the lap panel, which is stippled to indicate presence of an adhesive coating, to complete the open-ended tubular configuration readily visualized with'the aid of this and the preceding view, after which the bottom closure may be formed from the tabs and flaps in conventional manner.

Of course, the hollow mandrel is withdrawn subsequently before the bottom is'closedywhich may be'before or after the container is loaded, depending upon whether the loading is to be done through the bottom or the top. In the packaging of cigarettes, for example, the mandrel itself conveniently is preloaded with the desired contents, then covered by a pouch-like soft inner wrapper over which the relatively stiff blank is folded, and the top closure is formed before the mandrel is stripped out through the bottom. The filling of such a container can be accomplished in a number of alternative ways well known to those skilled in-the art and, therefore, is not discussed further'herein. 'No mandrel is shown in the subsequent views, its use being optional at stages in the package formation following that shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows in like perspective the top portion of the forming container at a stage in the folding succeeding that shown in Fig. 2. In this view, tab 25 is folded down across the end of the tube, and cared tab 23 is in the process of being folded down similarly. The'flaps are spread apart slightly to facilitate entrance of the ears of the latter tab.

Fig. 4 presents the container likewise at a slightly later stage, with the eared tab folded down across the end, its free edge overlapping the free edge of the other tab and with its ears inserted in the slits at the flap junctions: car 46 entering slit 36, and (not visible) car 48 slit 38. The free end of the eared tab overlaps the free end of the underlying tab, and display area 33 (shaded oppositely to the other display area) on the outer surface of the upper tabis about to be covered by flap 22, which is shown in the process of being folded down overthe end of the container. Inner surface 24' of the other flap is stippled to indicate adhesive coating, which may be applied at this stage or, if desired, at some earlier stage.

Fig. 5 shows the top end of the container with flap 24 folded down to overlie and adhere to fiap 22, completing the fixed outer closure. Window 34 in the outer flap registers with the window of the underlying fiap so that a major portion of display area 35 on the fixed tab is revealed. Rupturing of the perforated junction of the eared tab with wall panel 3 is indicated by the thumb (shown in phantom) pressing down on the tab near the junction; this step may be performed at any convenient time and in any convenient manner, either manually or by mechanical means, such as a knife reciprocating parallel to the inner face of the narrow wall. Detachment from that sidewall converts the eared tab into a captive closure slide, as will be apparent.

Fig. 6 shows the top end of the container with dispensing opening 50 uncovered by sliding aside of the cared slide composed of the one-time tab 23, which may be accomplished readily by grasping the protruding ears with thumb and forefinger and sliding them toward the opposite end of the retaining slits. When this is done the slide intervenes between the underlying fixed tab and the overlying'flaps to shut oif the previously visible portion of the display area 35 of the fixed tab and to reveal instead a major portion of the previously concealed display area 33 on the slide. Thus, as the slide is moved back and forth to uncover and to recover the dispensing opening, the scene in the window alternates or flashes between two different displays,-attracting the attention of the user or onlooker. For example, the fixed tab, whose display area is visible when the container is closed, may carry the brand name of the contents, and the slide may carry in its display area the name of the manufacturer or a slogan to be associated with the brand name.

Further uses of the display areawill come readily to mind, as will modifications of the display alternation suggested above; thus, the display area of the closure slide may be partly cutout or transparent, so as to superimpose the second display on the first'one. The display that is hidden until the slide is moved to uncover the dispensing opening may have characteristics that vary from one container to the next, within the samebrand (of cigarettes, for example) to add an element of the unknown to the otherwise relatively unexciting prospect of opening the package.

Other variations, such as changes in the shapes of the closure elements, the windows, or their location with re spect to the rest of the container, or use of materials of construction other than as recommended above, that do not represent a departure from the present invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The claimed invention:

1. An end closure for a container having a dispensing opening extending substantially the width of the container and comprising a substantially rectangular, fixed outer closure piece covering part of that end from side to side alongside the dispensing opening and having a window therein; an inner closure piece carrying a first display means located underneath the outer closure piece and the window therein; and a captive closure piece extending substantially the width of that end of the container and being slidable along the end to cover and to uncover the dispensing opening, the slidable captive closure piece having a portion thereof located beyond the outer edge of the fixed outer closurepiece and adapted to be manipulated to move the slidable closure piece and having a second portion thereof adapted to move between the outer and inner closure pieces and carrying a second display means visible through the window of the outer piece when the dispensing opening is uncovered, the captive closure piece being clear of the window and the display means on the second previously mentioned portion thereof being concealed by the fixed outer closure piece when the dispensing opening is covered by the captive closure piece.

2. A closure for a container having a dispensing opening, comprising a closure piece movable in a given plane to uncover and recover the dispensing opening, a first fixed closure piece located adjacent the outer face of the movable closure piece and provided with a window therethrough, a second fixed closure piece located adjacent the inner face of the movable closure piece and opposite the window in the first fixed closure piece, the first fixed closure piece being exterior thereto, the closure being characterized by a display on the second fixed closure piece visible through the Window only when the dispensing opening is covered by the movable closure piece and being characterized further by a display on the movable closure piece visible through the Window only when the dispensing opening is uncovered by the movable closure piece, the portion of the movable closure piece visible through the window when the dispensing opening is uncovered having an imperforate surface, and the movable closure piece having an exposed portion thereof located clear of both the dispensing opening and the window in the covered position, in the uncovered position, and in intermediate positions of the movable closure piece, and the exposed portion being adapted to be manipulated to move the piece from one extreme position to the other and back again.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES 'The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 26, 1957, page 13. (Copy available in Division 40.) 

